If you’re new to oysters, storing, preparing and serving them can seem a little intimidating. Check out these easy tips to help you become an oyster pro.
Storing Oysters
Oysters are alive right up until you cook or eat them. We ship our oysters in durable Styrofoam coolers with several ice packs to preserve freshness.
When they arrive, open the cooler and give the mesh bag a once-over to see if any oysters are dead on arrival. Throw away any that are open, or have broken shells. Then you’re ready to put them in the fridge.
If possible, store them cup side down, in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Or, stack them between layers of damp kitchen towels. Don’t store them directly on ice. Oysters are saltwater creatures, and if the ice melts, the freshwater will kill them. Only put oysters on ice when they’re ready to serve. You can also store the oysters in a bowl, covered with a damp kitchen towel. When stored properly, oysters can keep in the fridge for roughly a week, assuming they were harvested fresh, like ours.
Clean Your Oysters
Before shucking or serving, give your oysters a scrub. This removes dirt, sand, shell fragments and other things you may not want to slurp. Turn on your cold tap and let it get as cold as possible. Add the oysters to a colander and let the water run over them. You can use a scouring pad or kitchen towel to scrub them. We recommend avoiding steel wool.
Work quickly, and scrub each oyster individually. They don’t need to be perfect, but cleaning them off helps reduce other contaminates. Once clean, store them using the method above.
Prepare to Serve
When it’s finally oyster time, lay our your garnishes before removing the oysters from the fridge. Whether you’re using a mignonette, snake oil, lemons, or ice is up to you. However, it’s important to keep the oysters cool until you’re ready to serve. Once you’re ready to eat, pull the oysters out and start shucking. Many of our kits include an oyster knife. Check out the video below if you need help shucking.
That’s it! Oysters are a simple, delicious addition to a meal or can be a meal of their own. Have fun and experiment. Their potential is almost limitless.
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